From grizzled L.A. Times columnist Steve Lopez, a big two thumbs down. Way down:

They say tonight’s soiree for President Obama at George Clooney’s house in Studio City is supposed to gross $15 million, and the operative word is “gross.”

Yeah, pardon me for being such a party pooper, but isn’t it a little offensive that 150 of L.A.’s high rollers would shell out $40,000 to kiss Clooney’s ring and get maybe 10 seconds of face time with Obama?

And what about the thousands of saps who pumped an average of $23 into Obama’s campaign coffers for the chance to be one of the two peons chosen to break bread with the VIPs?

I’d rather watch the Lakers game from a bar stool, which in fact is what I may do.

I haven’t seen Clooney’s guest list, but I’d bet $2 -– and not a penny more –- that his house will be full of that particularly unctuous strain of liberals who live for events like this that make them feel good about themselves but don’t really give a toss for their own community. Los Angeles could end up declaring bankruptcy and these posers will be telling friends about their big night at George’s house.

President Obama’s record $15 million fundraiser tonight at the home of actor George Clooney is being co-hosted by DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg. In addition to being the largest single donor to the pro-Obama Super PAC Priorities USA at $2 million, Katzenberg’s company is currently under investigation by the SEC for allegedly bribing Chinese officials.

The SEC investigation comes just weeks after Katzenberg announced this February that DreamWorks had struck a $2 billion deal to open a studio in Shanghai under the Oriental Dreamworks brand. The China deal was inked in a ceremony that featured Katzenberg alongside Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, who stopped off in Los Angeles in February on his way back to China after a series of high-level meetings at the White House, including meetings with Obama.